thunderbolt adapterhttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/11169/all
enWednesday Recap: FireWire Adapter, Google Wallet Update, Dropbox Securityhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/wednesday_recap_firewire_adapter_google_wallet_update_dropbox_security
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/google_wallet_with_discover_200px.png" alt="Google Wallet with Discover" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />August is here and so far it's been a crazy ride this week, with plenty of updates for our favorite gadgets as we start to wind down our summer. Of course, the rumor mill continues to barf up speculation on the next iPhone and the mythical "iPad mini" and now AT&amp;T is being accused of having salesmen discourage customers from buying Apple's handset. So let's get past this hump day with a handful of other news for this wonderful Wednesday, August 1, 2012!</p><h3>Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter Now Available</h3><p>When the new Ivy Bridge MacBooks rolled out at WWDC back on June 11, Apple promised a <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD464ZM/A" target="_blank">Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter</a> would join its Ethernet-packing sibling sometime in July. That month has come and gone, but we won't consider it a promise broken since the aforementioned FireWire Adapter has finally turned up for order on Apple's online store. As promised, it carries a $29 price tag and current ship times are showing one to three days at this writing. You'll need this to attach any FireWire peripherals to your new MacBook Pro with Retina Display or MacBook Air, but be sure you install OS X Lion 10.7.4 or later first.</p><h3>Google Wallet Now Allows All Credit, Debit Cards</h3><p>Although Google Wallet hasn't exactly changed the world with its NFC-connected mobile payment platform, the search giant continues to roll out new features for Android lovers. <a href="http://officialandroid.blogspot.com/2012/08/use-any-credit-or-debit-card-with.html" target="_blank">As noted by the Android Official Blog</a>, a new update to the Google Wallet app today finally allows the service to use any credit or debit card from Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover, and the app will even grab existing payment methods tied to your Google account and bring them into the fold without having to add them manually. The Google Wallet app is now cloud-based, so payment cards are securely stored on the company's servers. While that might scare some users, it has the advantage of remote disabling any of your mobile wallet payment methods from the Devices section of your online wallet, so Google Wallet is actually more secure than ever. Here's hoping the rumors of an NFC-equipped new iPhone come true so we can finally get this app on iOS as well...</p><h3>Dropbox Details New Security Features</h3><p>Another day, another company 'fessing up to a security bugaboo. <a href="http://blog.dropbox.com/index.php/security-update-new-features/" target="_blank">The Dropbox Blog is following up with a post this week</a> on recent customer complaints about spam being received at email addresses dedicated to the Dropbox service. At first the company denied a breach, but the July 31 post finally clears the air. "Our investigation found that usernames and passwords recently stolen from other websites were used to sign in to a small number of Dropbox accounts," the blog notes. "We’ve contacted these users and have helped them protect their accounts." The cloud storage company is also beefing up its security, adding optional two-factor authentication (which requires two proofs of identity when signing in), a new page for examining all active logins to your account and in some cases, a requirement for changing your Dropbox password. Two-factor authentication won't go live for a few weeks, but meanwhile the company has "automated mechanisms" in place to "help identify suspicious activity" -- and promises even more to come in the future.</p><h3>Apple Expands Retina MacBook Build-to-Order Options</h3><p><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2012/08/01/apple-expands-build-to-order-configuration-options-on-retina-macbook-pro/" target="_blank">MacRumors is reporting</a> that the Apple online store is now offering MacBook Pro with Retina Display buyers more variety when using the build-to-order configuration options when ordering. That means the $2199 base model can now be beefed up with a faster processor, more RAM and bigger flash storage, same as the more expensive model. Shipping estimates are still falling within one to two weeks as Apple continues to catch up to demand. Apple's online store also now gives buyers of the iWork suite the option to have the Pages, Numbers and Keynote apps preinstalled, which is a nice bonus for newbies.</p><h3>Google Chrome 21 Adds Retina Graphics, Webcam Support</h3><p><a href="http://chrome.blogspot.com/2012/07/new-senses-for-web.html" target="_blank">The Google Chrome Blog has announced</a> the availability of a new stable release of the Chrome browser, and it's definitely one that MacBook Pro with Retina Display owners are going to want. In addition to a new getUserMedia API which allows web apps to access your camera and microphone without a plugin, the update adds support for Retina Display screens on the Mac on top of expanded support for gamepads and deeper Google Clound Print integration. Chrome users will want to check out the new Webcam Toy and Magic Xylophone experiments in Chrome Web Lab which take advantage of the new webcam API, but first you'll need to open your Chrome browser and let the update install. But you already knew that, right?<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/wednesday_recap_firewire_adapter_google_wallet_update_dropbox_security#commentsNewsandroidApple Online StoreBuild To Orderchromedaily recapDropboxGoogle WalletSecuritythunderbolt adapteriPhoneMacWed, 01 Aug 2012 20:45:50 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14692 at http://www.maclife.comApple Posts FAQ on Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapterhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_posts_faq_thunderbolt_gigabit_ethernet_adapter
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/apple_logo_200px.jpeg" alt="Apple Inc. logo" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Although it would seem pretty straightforward, Apple has posted a frequently asked questions page for its new Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, which answers any burning questions you might have about the $29 dongle.<br /><br /><a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5309?viewlocale=en_US&amp;locale=en_US" target="_blank">Apple has updated its support website with a new Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter: Frequently Asked Questions entry</a>, posing six questions that users might ask about the $29 dongle, along with comforting answers and resolutions to any potential issues.<br /><br />Such as: Yes, you can use the adapter with any Thunderbolt-equipped Mac running OS X Lion 10.7.4 or later, but you'll want to install the <a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1544" target="_blank">Thunderbolt Software Update 1.2.1</a> if your Mac was released prior to this month.<br /><br />Yes, you can connect the adapter to any Thunderbolt port, including the pass-through port on an Apple Thunderbolt Display or third-party device. However, take note that other devices in the chain could adversely affect performance.<br /><br />"Mass Storage and other high-bandwidth devices can affect the performance of this adapter," the FAQ notes. "If you have issues mixing this adapter with such devices, connect it directly to another Thunderbolt port on your computer, or connect it to a low-bandwidth device on the Thunderbolt chain."<br /><br />That is, unless you only have one Thunderbolt port, in which case you're pretty much up the creek without a paddle, as the saying goes.<br /><br />One last tip: No, the <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD463" target="_blank">Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter</a> can't be used on a Mac without Thunderbolt, even if you're able to plug it into that old Mini DisplayPort jack. But you already knew that, didn't you…?<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_posts_faq_thunderbolt_gigabit_ethernet_adapter#commentsNewsApple Inc.ethernetFAQsgigabitthunderboltthunderbolt adapterThunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet AdapterMacFri, 22 Jun 2012 12:05:10 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14389 at http://www.maclife.comSeagate GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/seagate_goflex_thunderbolt_adapter_review
<!--paging_filter--><h3>Give that Thunderbolt port--and your wallet--a workout</h3><p>When Apple showed off Thunderbolt, we all got giddy with nerdy excitement. 10Gbps dual throughput? Yes, I would like that. Then nothing was released. Thunderbolt ports on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air sat empty and unused as we waited for the peripherals to arrive. So far we’ve gotten high-end RAIDs that are a bit out of the reach of the average Mac user. Finally Thunderbolt gets some consumer love--some pricey, pricey consumer love. <br /><br />The Seagate GoFlex series of portable hard drives has been around for a few years. One drive can attach to numerous interface adapters so you can use it with USB and FireWire. So for Seagate it was a no-brainer to add a Thunderbolt adapter too. If you’re already part of the GoFlex ecosystem, you’re ready to step up to the fastest interface around. Unfortunately, the adapter has only one port, so you can’t daisy-chain to all the other devices that are slowly (ever so slowly) trickling to the market.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u307916/2012/06/Reviews/thbrdadapter.jpg" width="620" height="361" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The adapter snaps to the bottom of a Seagate GoFlex series hard drive, but you have to supply the Thunderbolt cable.</strong></p><p>Using a Seagate GoFlex over Thunderbolt certainly is fast. We copied the same 1.13GB folder to a 7200-rpm FreeAgent GoFlex drive using the Thunderbolt adapter on a MacBook Air, and then again using USB 2.0. The USB transfer took 45 seconds while the Thunderbolt adapter finished the same task in 17 seconds. The only thing slowing Thunderbolt down is the drive itself. But that speed comes at a price.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u307916/2012/06/Reviews/thbrdadapter2.jpg" width="620" height="416" /></p><p>Thunderbolt is expensive. The cable--which isn’t included--will set you back $49. The GoFlex Thunderbolt adapter is $99. That’s a $150 investment and you haven’t even bought the drive yet. For around the same price you can get a compatible 1TB USB 2.0 FreeAgent GoFlex for Mac Ultra-portable drive--cable included.&nbsp; <br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>It’s fast enough that you’ll be upset when you move files to drives connected via USB 2.0 and FireWire. But that speed comes at a steep price.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter</p> </div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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Seagate </div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.seagate.com" target="_blank">www.seagate.com</a></p> </div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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$99.99 </div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Thunderbolt port, Seagate GoFlex external drive</p> </div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Wicked fast.</p> </div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Wicked expensive.</p> </div>
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</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/seagate_goflex_thunderbolt_adapter_review#commentsReviewsexternal harddrivesHardwarehddsSeagateStoragethunderboltthunderbolt adapterMacTue, 17 Apr 2012 16:07:00 +0000Roberto Baldwin13840 at http://www.maclife.com